Tendulkar meets Sonia amid possibility of Rajya Sabha nomination

New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar met Congress president Sonia Gandhi Thursday amid speculation in party circles that he would be nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

Congress leaders said Tendulkar and his wife Anjali paid "a courtesy visit" to Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence. They said Gandhi was keen to greet the cricketer on his feat of scoring 100 international centuries.

Indian Premier League chairman Rajiv Shukla, who is also Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, was present on the occasion.

Congress leaders indicated that Tendulkar was among those being considered by the government for nomination to the Rajya Sabha.

"Why should there not be a sportsman," a senior leader told IANS when asked if Tendulkar would be nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

Tendulkar scored his much awaited 100th international century in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh in March. He turned 39 Tuesday.

There have been demands from supporters of Tendulkar that he should be given Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award.